Support for insulators



June 1951 A. B. BUSSMANN 2,557,370

SUPPORT FOR INSULATORS Filed Sept. 20, 1946 INVENTOR. ALoYs/us BBusS/MNN A-TTORNEY.

Patented June 19, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SUPPORT FORINSULATORS Aloysius B. Bus'smann, St. Louis, Mo. Application September20, 1946, Serial No. 698,291

4 Claims- This invention relates to improvements in supports forinsulators. More particularly this invention relates to improvements insupports for insulators that have threaded recesses in the basesthereof.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved supportfor insulators that have threaded recesses in the bases thereof.

In using insulators, and in particular in using insulators for electricfences, it is desirable to provide aquick and easy method of securingthem to a post or other stationary object. One very useful methodincludes passing a nail, or other smalldiameter post-penetratingelement, through an opening in an insulator-engaging member and thenforcing the post-penetrating element into a post to bring theinsulator-engaging member into assembled relation with the post. Withsuch a method .the nail and the insulator-engaging member are firstaifixed to the post, and thereafter the insulator is threaded onto theinsulatorengaging member. The insulator and the insulator-engagingmember are so dimensioned that the recess in the insulator telescopesover and completely encloses the head of the nail and theinsulator-engaging member. Consequently the insulator support isprotected against attack by the weather and will .be long lived.

In driving the nail or other post-penetrating element into the post, itis desirable to space the head of the nail from the post a distanceapproximately equal to the depth of the recess in the insulator. Wherethis is done the insulator-engaging member can be rotated intoengagement with the innermost threads of the recess of the insulator;thus increasing the amount of pull that the insulator can withstandwithout being dislodged from the post. The present invention insuresthis full and exact spacing of the head of the :nail from the post byproviding a spacer that is carried by the nail. It is, therefore, anobject of the present invention to provide a spacer that is carried bythe nail and acts to provide a minimum distance between the post and thenail head when the nail is forced into the post.

Other objects and advantages of the invention can be ascertained from anexamination of the drawing and the accompanying description.

In :the drawing and accompanying description, four preferred embodimentsof the invention are shown and described, but it is to be understoodthat the drawing and accompanying description are merely illustrative ofand do not limit the invention and that the invention will be defined by:the appended claims.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an ins ator-enga ingmember,

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a spacer made in accordance with theprinciples and teachings .of the present invention,

Fig. 3. is a frontelevational view of a nail,

Fig. 4 is a perspective .view of an assembled in: sulatorrengagingmember, a spacer, and a nail,

Fig. ,5 is an insulator with a recess in the base thereof,

Fig. 6 is a perspective view .of another in: sulatoreengaging member,

Fig. 7 is a perspective View .of a spacer,

Fig, :8 is a perspective view of another nail,

9 is a perspective view .of an assembled insulator..-.engaging member, aspacer, a screw, lock washer, and nut, and

'Fig. 10 is a perspective view .of an insulator: engaging member ofmodified form that is as.- semjbled with a modified spacer, a screw,lock washer, and nut.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the numeral I ll denotes aninsulator.-.engaging member of disc form. The member In is provided witha notch I-2 that has edges which constitute the leading and trailingedges of a one turn helix; which helix is formed by the periphery of themember Ill. The member [0 is also provided with an opening I 4 and withtwo radially extending notches 18 that are contiguous to the opening .I4.

Ihe numeral 18 denotes a spacer that is provided with a central opening20. The opening 20 is-provided with radially extending notches 22 that.are contiguous to the opening -29. ='-I he spacer 18 is bowl-shaped andterminates in a circular flange 24 that lies in .a plane perpendicularto the axis .of the spacer. The spacer may be made of any desiredmaterial and may be made by any desired method, but it iseasily made bypunching it from a :flat sheet .of metal.

'The numeral 26 (denotes a nail which has ,a head 28. Adjacent :the head28 of the nail 26 are two longitudinally extending fins or ribs '30 thatare formed integrally with the nail and make the upper endof the shankof the nail raciizcular, that is, non-circular. These -fins .or ribstaper from the *headof .the nail until they are flush with the generallycylindrical .body .;of .the nail. The ribs 30 are sold-imensioned thatthey fit easily into the notches l 6 in the member 1 0 land so theyprovide asnug fit with the notches 22 in the spacer 1.8.

In using the insulator-engaging member {I 0, the spacer I18, and thenail 26, :the sharp endof the nail 26 is inserted through the opening.14 in .the insulator-engaging member ID, and the insulator.-

2,557,370 :Q' l. I

3 engaging member In is moved along the generally cylindrical body ofthe nail until it engages the ribs 30 of nail 26. At this time, if theribs 30 are in register with the notches [6, the insulatorengagin memberI can be moved adjacent the head- 28 of the nail 26. If, however, theribs 30 are not in register with the notches [6, the nail 26 or theinsulator-engaging member I6 must be rotated until the ribs .30 are inregister with the notches l6; whereupon the insulator-engaging member [0can'be moved adjacent the head 28 of the nail 26. Thereafter the sharpend of the nail 26 is inserted through the opening 20 in the spacer 18and the spacer is moved along the generally cylindrical body of the nail26 until it engages the ribs 36. At that time, if the ribs30 are inregister with the notches 22, 'the spacer can be moved adjacent theinsulator-engaging member. If, however, the ribs 30 are not in registerwith the notches 22, the spacer I8 or the nail 26 must be rotated untilthe ribs 30 of nail 26 are in re ister with the notches 22 in the spacer[8; whereupon the spacer H can be moved adjacent the insulator-engagingmember I ll.

When this has been done, the nail 26, insulatorengaging member [0, andspacer [8 will form an assembled unit because of the snug fit betweenthe notches 22 of the spacer l8 and the ribs 30 of the nail 26. Thisunit can then be picked up, placed with the sharp end of nail 26 againsta post, and hammered or otherwise forced into the post until the head 28of the nail 26 holds the insulator-engaging member ID adjacent the topof the spacer l8 and, thus holds the flange 24 against the post. At thistime, the insulatorengaging member It] will be spaced from the post bythe spacer l8. Thereafter the insulator 32 can be placed so its threadedrecess 34 is in contact with the insulator-engaging member l0; and theinsulator can be rotated until the helical periphery of theinsulator-engaging member In is snugly seated in the threaded recess 34.At this time the base of the insulator will be immediately adjacent thepost and will cooperate with the post to substantially enclose theinsulator-engaging member ID, the spacer l8, and the upper section ofnail 26.

The ribs '36 of nail 26 not only cooperate with the notches 22 in thespacer l8 to provide a snug fit that holds the insulator-engagin memberID and the spacer [8 in assembled relation with nail 26, but they alsocooperate with the notches l6 in the insulator-engaging member ill toprevent rotation of member [0 relative to nail 26. Moreover, since thenail 26 will be held against rotation by the fibers in the wood of thepost, the

insulator-engaging member H], which is locked to the nail 26 by the ribs30, will also be held against rotation. This makes it possible for theinsulator to be threaded onto or off of the insulatorengagingmember withease. The frictional engagement between the flange 24 and the post willassist in preventing rotation of the nail 26 relative to the post, sincethe spacer I8 is also locked to the nail by the ribs 30. Not only doesthe flange 24 assist in preventing rotation of the nail, but itprovides'a broad blunt surface that will prevent the forcing of. the endof the spacer into the fibers of the post. This is desirable because itguarantees the maintenance of the desired minimum distance between thepost and the insulator-engaging member II]. In addition, the flange maybe made so it will serve as a surface against which the edges of therecess in the insulator may bear... With. such an arrangement,

4 the flange 24 on the spacer l8 and the engagement between the head 28of the nail 26 and the insulator-engaging member 10 could provide threepoints of support for the insulator.

In the event the insulator-engagin member Ill or the spacer l8 or thenail 26 has to be replaced.

the nail 26 can be removed from the post, the spacer 18 can be removedfrom the nail 26, the insulator-engaging member I0 can be removed fromthe nail 26, and the needed substitution can be made. This obviates theneed'of disposing of all three members when only one member needsreplacement.

By providin the spacer, the invention insures proper spacing of theinsulator-engaging member ID from thepost. This not only insures easyassembly of the insulator 32 with the insulatorengaging member 10, butit insures engagement between the insulator-engaging member ID and theinnermost portion of the thread in the recess 34. Moreover, the use ofthespacer appreciably increases the resistance of the insulator toforces that tend to dislodge the insulator by urging rotation of theinsulator about an axis parallel to the surface of the post. The spacer18 does this by shifting the instantaneous center of rotation of theinsulator from the periphery of the nail to the periphery of the spacer.

The bowl-shape of the spacer I3 is quite valuable. It permits the spacerto be held in snug engagement with the nail and yet permits the spacerto be tilted relative to the nail. This isv valuable because it permitsfirm and correct seating of the spacer against the post even when thenail is not perpendicular to the surface of the post. The bowl-shape isadditionally valuable because it provides a flat surface that receivesthe insulator-engaging member and will be parallel to the post when thenail is driven into the post. This surface will keep theinsulatorengaging member parallel to the surface of thepost, and willthus make it quite easy to assemble the insulator with theinsulator-engaging member.

The teachings of this invention have been.

found to be very useful in making supports for insulators that are usedon the portable electric fences employed by farmers in confinin grazinganimals. By using a nail that'was approximately two inches long and wasless than five thirty-' seconds of an inch in diameter, and by' using aengaging member which has a central opening 33 of rectangular formtherein. The periphery: of the insulator-engaging member 36 has a notch46 therein'that provides the leading and-trailing edges of a helix,which helix is the periphery of the member 36.

of resilient material, such as leather, and that has anaxially-extending opening 44 therethrough.

The numeral 46 denotes a nail which has a generally cylindrical body anda notched head 48. Depending downwardly from the head 48. of.

the nail 46 and secured to the head 48 adjacent the notches are lugs'50. The head 48 of the nail J and the lugs 56 of the head 48 aredimensioned so the lugs will fit into the rectangular opening 1 36 ofthe insulator-engaging member 36, and-can The numeral 42 denotes agenerally cylindrical spacer member that is made the insulator-engagingmemberv 36.1

In using this modified form of the invention,

the sharp end of nail 46 is inserted through the opening. 38 of theinsulator-engaging member 36 and the member 36 is moved along thegenerally.-

cylindrical body of the nail 46 until it engages the nail head 48. Atthis time, "if-the lugs 53 of the nail head 48 are in register withthe'rectangw.

lar opening 68 of the insulatoreengaging member 36,- the lugs 50 can bemovedinto engagement with opening 38. If, however, the lugs 50 and theopening 38 are notfiin register, the hall 46 or theinsulator-engaging--member 36 must be rotated to bring the lugs 58 0fnail head 48 into register withv the opening 38 of the insulatorengagingmember 36; whereupon the lugs 50 can be moved into engagement withthe'opening 38. Thereafter the sharp end of the nail 46 can be insertedthrough the opening '44 of the spacer 42 and the spacer can be urgedalong the generally cylindrical body of the nail 46 until it cent theinsulator-engagingmember 36.

The opening 44 in the resilient spacer member 42 is so dimensioned as toprovide a snu fit between the spacer and the nail 46. The lugs 50 in thenail head 48 cooperate withthe'opening 38 in the insulator-engagingmember 36 to prevent relative rotation th'erebetween."

When nail 46, spacer 42 and-i-nsulator-engaging member 36 are assembledtogether, they form a unit that can be handled in the same way as theunit formed by assemblingnail 2'6, spacer I 8, and insulator-engaging-'member ID can be handled.

" Fig. 9 shows a screw 52, an insulator-engaging in the shape of theopenings therethrough. The

opening 56 in disc 54 and the opening 60 in spacer 58 are circular whilethe openings l4 and 26 oi the disc [8 and spacer 20 are acirculartHowever, the opening 60 in spacer 58 is dimensioned to provide a snuglit with screw 52, whereby the screw 52, disc 54 and spacer 58 can bepicked up and used as an assembled unit j 'in the manner of nail 26,disc l8 and spacer l8.

In using the assembled insulator support of Fig. 9, the nut 64 and thelock washer 62 are removed, and the threaded end of the screw 52 isinserted through an opening in the post; and thereafter the lock washer62 and the nut 64 are replaced on the threaded end of screw 52 and aredrawn up tightly against the rear surface of the post. This causes thehead of the screw 52 to be pressed tightly against the insulatorengagingdisc 54, and to force that disc against the spacer 58, and to forcespacer 58 against the post. Depending on the tightness with which thenut is drawn up on the threaded end of the screw 52, the pressurebetween the head of the screw 52, the insulator-engaging disc 54, thespacer 58, the post, and the lock washer 62 can be great enough toprevent rotation of the insulator-engaging disc 54 relative to the post.This permits ready engagement and disengagement of the insulator withthe insulator-engaging disc 54. g

The structure shown in Fig. 9 is very useful with posts that haveopenings therethrough; and it is particularly useful with metal posts.Such posts usually have a number of openings is. adjatherethrough. andthe screw 52 can be set at almost any desired level on the post merelyby inserting it through an opening at that level.

Fig. 10 shows an assembled unit that is very similar to the unit of Fig.9, and this includes a screw 66, an insulator-engaging disc 68, a spacer14, a lock washer 80, and a nut 82. The disc 68 and the. spacer, 74 aresimilar to the disc 54 and spacer 58 of Fig. 9, in that they have thesame general configuration and have circular openings 16 and 16therethrough. However, disc 68 and spacer 16 are. unlike disc 54 andspacer 58 in that disc 68 is provided with radially-extending ridges onthe under side thereof and spacer 74 is provided with radially-extendinggrooves 18 in the upper surface thereof. The ridges on the under side ofdisc 68 are adapted to be placed in register with the grooves 78 in thesubstantially plane upper surface of spacer l4; and those ridges'areindicated in Fig. 10 by the depressions 12 that were formed in disc 68when the ridges were formed, as by punching in a press.

In using the assembled support of Fig. 10, the nut 82 and the lockwasher 86 are removed, the

threaded end of screw 66 is inserted through an opening in the post, andthe lock washer 86 and the nut 82 are replaced on the threaded end ofscrew 66 and are drawn up tightly against the post. Again, depending onthe tightness with which the nut 82 is drawn up against the post, theinsulator-engaging disc 58 can be held in such intimate engagement withthe spacer l4 and the spacer 14 can be held in such intimate engagementwith the post, that the insulator-engaging disc 68 can be held againstrotation relative to the post. The provision of the grooves 16 in thesubstantially plane upper surface of the spacer l4, and the provision ofthe cooperating ridges on the under side of the disc 68 additionallyassist in preventing-any rotation of disc 63 relative to the post.

- 'As a matter of actual practice, the structure shown in Fig. 9 willadequately prevent rotation of the insulator-engaging disc 54 relativeto the post under most, if not all, normal operating conditions."However, the provision of the grooves 16 in the upper surface of spacerl4 and the provision'of the ridges on the under side of disc 68additionally increases the resistance of disc 68 so therethrough.Whether used with wood or metal posts, the spacers 58 and 14 of Figs. 9and 10 will maintain the required minimal distance between the post andthe insulator-engaging discs 54 and 68, and will seat firmly against thepost even though the screws 52 and 66 are inclined at an angle to thesurface of the post.

While the drawing and accompanying description show and describe fourpreferred embodiments of the invention, it is obvious to those skilledin the art that various changes may be made in the form of the inventionwithout affecting its scope. For example, the post-penetrating memberand the insulator-engaging member could be made unitary rather than intwo separate pieces, or the screws, washers and nuts could be replacedby wood screws for use with wood posts; and these and other things canbe done ammo fe'rred embodiments of, and do not limit, the invention andthat the invention will be defined by the appended claims.

WhatIclaimis: g

1. In a support for an insulator, a post-penetrating member, aninsulator-engagin member, and a spacer that is adapted to be positionedbetween a post and the insulator-engaging member, said spacer havingmeans adapted to bear against said post and having a flat surfacespacedfrom said means in a direction parallel to said'postpenetratingmember, said post-penetrating member projecting through an opening insaid flat surface of the spacer and projecting through an opening in theinsulator-engaging member, said bearing means of said spacer beingdisposed radially outward from the point where the postpenetratingmember enters the post, said spacer fitting snugly onto thepost-penetratin memberand being carried by it, said insulator-engagingmember being a disc with a helical periphery that extends beyond saidfiat surface of said spacer to engage a threaded recess in an insulator.

2. In a support for an insulatona post-penetrating member, aninsulator-engaging member, and a spacer that is adapted to be positionedbetween a post and the insulator-engaging member, said spacer having asurface adapted to bear against said post and having a second surfaceadapted to bear against said insulatorengaging member, said secondsurface bein spaced from the first said surface in a direction parallelto said post-penetrating member, said postpenetrating member projectingthrough an opening in said second surface of the spacer andprojectingthrough an opening in the insulator-engaging member, saidspacer fitting snugly onto the post-penetrating member and being carriedby it, said insulator-engaging member being a disc that is adapted toengage and hold an insulator.

3. In a support for an insulator, a post-penetrating member, aninsulator-engaging member, and a spacer that is adapted to be positionedbetween a post and the insulator-engaging member, said spacer havin asurface adapted to bear against said post and having second surfaceadapted to bear against said insulator-engaging member, said secondsurface being spaced from the first said surface in a direction parallelto said post-penetrating. member, .said post-penetrating memberprojecting through an opening in said second surface of the spacer andprojecting through an opening in the insulator-engaging member, theportions of said insulator-engaging member and said spacer which definesaid openings being thin so they contact only very limited portions ofthe length of said post-penetrating member, said portions of said spacerwhich define said opening insaid spacer being adapted to coact with saidpost-penetrating member to provide a snug fit, the limited engagementbetween said post-penetrating member and said portions of said spacerand said insulator-engaging.v member permitting tilting of saidpost-penetrating memberrelative to said insulator-engaging member andsaid spacer.

4. In a support for an insulator, apost-penetrating member, aninsulator-engaging member, and a spacer thatis adapted to be positionedbetween a post and the insulator-engaging member, said spacer having asurface adapted to bear against said post and having a second surfaceadapted to bear against said insulator-engaging member, said second.surface being spaced from the first said surface in a direction parallelto said post-penetrating member, said post-penetrating member projectingthrough an, opening in said secondsurfaceofthespacerandprojectingthroughan opening in the insulator-engaging member, said insulator-engagingmember being, a disc which engages only a limited portion of the lengthof said post-penetrating member andsaid spacer being thin where itengages said post-penetrating member so said spacer and saidinsulator-engaging member can tilt relative to said postpenetratingmember. v

. ALOYSIUS B. BUSSMANN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Harms Jan. 20, 1920

